Sunday, September 7, 2008

Masterpiece....is a Masterpiece!!!

Elise Broach has done it again! She completely wowed me with Shakespeare's Secret and now, her newest title, Masterpiece, has left even more of an impression. Anyone with an imagination will love this book and those without much of an imagination need to read this to gain one! I loved it and know she will have huge success with this story.

Marvin is a beetle. He and his family live under the kitchen sink in the home of James Pompaday, a quiet and mature 11 year old boy, looking for his place in the world. When James receives a pen and ink set for his birthday from his dad, he isn't quite sure what to do with it, but Marvin surprises him by creating an amazingly intricate miniature drawing, eventually leading to the pair forging a strange, yet close friendship. After James receives credit for Marvin's artwork, the beetle and the boy are swept up in a mystery and art heist that grows more exciting with every page.

The friendship between James and Marvin, though quite farfetched, is written in a really beautiful manner. The story that grows as their friendship does is one filled with suspense and thrills, as well as fabulous illustrations, done by Kelly Murphy. Broach manages to slip an in-depth history lesson right under the reader's nose, a talent that many authors do not possess. I really enjoyed Masterpiece and can see it having just as much success as Shakespeare's Secret, a title that is rarely on our shelves at the library. I'm looking forward to see what else Elise Broach can come up with!

I just discoverd the world of book review blogging this week and have spent many late nights enthralled. Thank you so much for your reviews! What a help to a busy librarian (part-time) and part-time homeschooling grandmother. Please enter me in your contest. The book sounds great!

Nice to meet you!

I'm Amanda! I'm a book lover, former librarian, wannabe runner, military wife, and toddler mom. Here you'll find ramblings on great books for all ages and the occasional musing on life. Thanks for stopping by!